News Feature | January 10, 2014

Anheuser-Busch, Mayor Of L.A. Promote Water Conservation

The mayor of Los Angeles is touting a program that encourages businesses to reduce their wastewater output.

"The city charges commercial businesses fees based on their projected wastewater output. But if the company discharges less than the anticipated amount, they’re eligible for a rebate under a city law passed last year," according to the New York Daily News.

To drum up public support for the program, Mayor Eric Garcetti toured a plant owned by Anheuser-Busch, the company behind Budweiser and Stella Artois.

"Anheuser-Busch has reduced its wastewater output by 2 million gallons over the past 15 years. The brewery did so by buying new equipment and installing items like low-flow toilets," the report said.

The result: A $2.3 million rebate from Los Angeles.

Garcetti's office explained the nuts and bolts of the program in a release: "When industrial customers connect to the city sewer system, they pay fees based on a projected amount of wastewater they will discharge into the system. Previously, if customers discharged less, their fees would not be affected. With this new program, if that amount is less than projected, the customer may receive a credit that can be applied to future bills."

“I want to bring L.A. back to basics, and it simply doesn’t make sense for the city to charge businesses for more than they use,” Garcetti said in a release from the company. “We are crediting Anheuser-Busch $2.3 million for reducing their wastewater output, which conserves water, helps our environment, and reduces the burden on our city’s infrastructure.”

Anheuser-Busch welcomed the attention from the mayor.

“We are excited to participate with the city in this unique and innovative program that benefits the entire community, the environment, and responsible corporate citizenship,” said Luis Cayo, senior general manager of the Anheuser-Busch Los Angeles brewery. “Due to our ongoing conservation efforts, we had nearly double the capacity reserved in the city’s treatment system, and are pleased to return this asset back to the city for other users.”